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When you huddle on an Economy Class flight from Emirates airline, it is old plastic bottles that will keep you warm … They were transformed into blankets … From now to 2019, 88 million plastic bottles, that would otherwise end up at the landfill, will be used.

The Dubai-based transporter has introduced new durable blankets made from 100 percent recycled plastic containers. They are made using patented ecoTHREAD technology and are now available in economy class on all Emirates airline long-haul flights.

Emirates was already in eco-friendly mode on board its aircraft by recycling aluminum boxes, plastic and glass bottles…

Each ecoTHREAD blanket from Emirates is made from 28 recycled plastic bottles that are converted into plastic chips before being converted into wire, creating a polar fiber material. The fine wire is then woven into soft blankets.

Eco-friendly covers were designed in partnership with Buzz, an online product specialist based in Australia. Emirates was already in eco-friendly mode on board its aircraft by recycling aluminum boxes, plastic and glass bottles as well as newspapers, magazines and boxes.

By the end of 2019, ecoTHREAD will have consumed 88 million plastic bottles that would otherwise be destined for landfill – equivalent to the weight of 44 Superjumbo aircrafts, the Airbus A380.

“This initiative makes it the largest sustainable coverage program in the airline industry,” said Emirates. “In addition, the manufacturing process of using recycled polyethylene terephthalate reduces energy emissions by 70 percent.”

When we ask Joost Heymeijer, Senior Vice President, Catering, Emirates airline, how do the travelers react to the new blankets he explained that “customer feedback has been positive, they love using them onboard. We’ve also had customers telling us they find the new blankets warmer and more comfortable.”